Today, I'll be posting information about
Jeju Island's Geomunoreum , which is designated as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site .
(I only explored Course 1 last time, and it was so wonderful
that I'm planning to challenge Course 3 this time!!)
📌 How to Book Your Geomunoreum Visit
📌 Entry Regulations Checklist
📌 Geomunoreum Course Types & Duration
📌 My Review of Course 1
📌 Recommended Nearby Accommodations
Geomunoreum Path
How to Book Your Geomunoreum Visit
For the preservation of its ecosystem,
Geomunoreum is only accessible to those who have made prior reservations ,
and as a rule, same-day reservations are not possible .
💡 I didn't realize I needed a reservation and just went.
Luckily, they let me in on the spot that day,
but usually, people end up making a wasted trip,
so for your peace of mind, make sure to book in advance!
▼Geomunoreum Reservation Website▼
Check Before You Book!!
📌 Booking Opens
First-come, first-served from 9 AM on the 1st of the month prior to your desired visit date.
📌 Daily Capacity
Limited to 450 visitors per day.
📌 Closed Days
Every Tuesday , Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) / Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day), and during inclement weather.
📌 Payment
Admission fee (Adult ~$1 / Youth, Child, Soldier ~$1)
Pay on-site.
📌 Time Slot Selection
Every 30 minutes from 9 AM to 1 PM.
If you plan to complete all 3 courses, we recommend booking a slot before 10 AM.
(Course 3 takes a long time, so if you start late,
entry might be restricted.)
Geomunoreum Course Types & Duration
Geomunoreum has three courses in total ,
but you don't need to choose a specific course when booking!
On-site, you'll proceed in the order of Course 1 → Course 2 → Course 3 ,
so you can decide at each fork in the path based on your condition that day!
Course Name
Estimated Time
Course 1 (Summit)
About 1 hour
Course 2 (Crater)
About 2 hours 30 minutes
Course 3 (Full Trail)
About 3 hours 30 minutes
Information Center Entrance (Course Start Point)
Entry Regulations Checklist
Since Geomunoreum is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site,
it's not a place you can just visit without any preparation.
It would be a shame to go through all the trouble of booking only to be denied entry,
so make sure to check the regulations carefully!
📌 ID card required.
📌 Sneakers are a must.
(Sandals, flip-flops, and heels are not permitted.)
📌 Sticks and umbrellas are prohibited.
📌 No food allowed except for plain water.
My Review of Geomunoreum Course 1
Geomunoreum Information Center
The day before, my mom and I had hiked Hallasan,
so my legs were really shaky, you know?
But my mom, a seasoned hiker, seemed perfectly fine
and wanted to go to an *oreum*.
*Oreum*? I thought it was just a short walking path, so I visited Geomunoreum.
(My clueless mistake... I even went wearing a skirt, oops!
The first course felt more like a gentle walking path,
so even a long skirt wasn't a major hindrance.)
I went without any prior information, so I didn't even know if reservations were needed, but luckily
a spot opened up, and they let us join on the spot.
The parking lot was spacious, and the information center and surrounding facilities were truly excellent.
We had a little time until our exploration slot, so Mom and I explored the surroundings
and took some photos.
When it was time, we met our guide in front of the information center,
greeted the other participants, and began our exploration.
It rained on the day I visited.
Our guide said that in Jeju Island,
there's a saying not to blame the weather,
and I think it's because, as an island, the weather is incredibly unpredictable.
The rain made visibility a bit hazy,
but the foggy Geomun Oreum path was incredibly atmospheric.
My legs were trembling,
but Mom kept saying how wonderful it was and confidently led the way! Haha.
Though the wooden decks were well-laid and it was a pleasant path to walk,
compared to other 'oreums' (volcanic cones), even Course 1 felt quite substantial.
According to our guide, you absolutely have to visit Geomun Oreum in all four seasons.
Because the plants that grow each season are different,
there's so much fun in seeing the different sights!
After about 30 minutes of climbing stairs and wooden paths, you reach the summit.
From there, those who wish to continue to Course 2 go with the guide,
while those who want to return take a different path,
which leads back to the information center, our starting point.
Mom really wanted to go all the way to Course 2,
but my legs just wouldn't cooperate,
so we promised to come back again another time and headed back.
The path back to the information center was incredibly beautiful.
The rain-soaked ground and lush grass gave it the feel of a serene foreign forest path.
Only a limited number of people are allowed in per time slot, so it wasn't noisy or bustling,
I highly recommend it for anyone looking to quietly experience nature.
Geomun Oreum must have been truly wonderful,
because even after we returned to Seoul, Mom kept saying she really wanted to go back to Geomun Oreum and complete up to Course 3,
so we're planning to tackle it again in September! Hehe.
I'll be sure to bring back reviews of Courses 2 and 3 too!!
Recommended Accommodations Near Geomun Oreum
This September, Mom and I are planning to complete Courses 2 and 3 of Geomun Oreum,
so I spent a lot of time considering the accommodation location .
We decided on Gyorae-ri, Jeju for its location.
It's super close to Geomun Oreum, just a 5-10 minute drive,
and there are many tourist attractions nearby like Stone Park and Eco Land,
making it perfect for planning our itinerary.
I did some extensive searching and found 3 accommodations with great value and comfortable room conditions to share with you.
(Comparing weekday and weekend rates across other sites, Agoda consistently had the lowest prices!)
1. Hanwha Resort Jeju
Spacious rooms and excellent breakfast. Recommended as a great value accommodation.
2. Pony Jeju
Offers horse feeding experiences and a nature-friendly atmosphere
3. Eco Land Hotel
Features a beautiful swimming pool and a castle-in-the-forest ambiance, highly recommended for families with children.